//------------------------------// // More Cutie Mark Chronicles // Story: Cutie Mark Crusaders Royale // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// After nearly five months of adventures and mishaps, the Crusaders had finally stumbled onto a dead end in their talent search. "So, now what?" Vito frowned. "We're all out of ideas." "What about my idea?" Hurricane asked. "I'm pretty sure nopony ever got their Cutie Mark for diving into a pool of chocolate sauce." Miracle pointed out. "Maybe, but it'd sure be tasty!" Hurricane licked her lips. "Meanwhile, back in Equestria..." Vito snarked. "There must be something we can do to get out of this funk." Pureblood declared. "Plot device?" Hurricane suggested. "Maybe, maybe..." Miracle mused. "Maybe we can ask some of the grownups how they got their Cutie Marks!" "That's... not such a bad idea." Vito declared. "Let's ask my dad!" Miracle suggested. "I bet he has some words of advice for us!" "Um, no offense, Mir, but we all know how uncle Shine got his Cutie Mark." Vito deadpanned. "Yeah, a story's already been done on it." Hurricane stated. "'Story'?" Miracle frowned. "Never mind. Who else should we ask?" "Maybe we can ask grandpa." Pureblood smiled, speaking of the visiting Grimoire, who came alone to discuss trade matters with Celestia. "He probably knows how all our great-uncles got their Marks! "Let's go." Miracle nodded. "Mmm, that's good plot device." Hurricane smiled. The Crusader dashed over to the castle garden, where Grimoire was sunning himself on a deckchair, with a pair of old sunglasses. "Hey, grandpa!" Vito yelled. "Hmm?" Grimoire glanced up, lifting up his glasses, and smiled, "Oh, hi, kids." "Mr. Napoleon, can you tell us how you and your brothers got your Cutie Marks?" Miracle asked. "All of us?" Grimoire asked. "Whatever for?" "We've hit a dead end on our crusading." Pureblood sighed. "Maybe if we hear stories about how other ponies got their Cutie Marks, it'd help inspire us." "And you came to me first?" Grimoire smiled. "I'm honoured." "Can you tell us?" Hurricane asked. "Pretty-please with a cherrychimichanga on top?" "Well, let's see... Murray Revolver-Ocelot Napoleon, got his cutie mark for shooting down a bird from five miles away, realized his talent was marksponyship. Sonny Blaze Napoleon, got his for burning down a warehouse..." Grimoire recited. "Wait, for burning down a warehouse?" Vito asked. "Yup, the day he realized he could conjure up fire magic from his horn." Grimoire nodded. "It was dang impressive. His talent was his expertise in fire-wielding... made him one of the best cooks I know. Then you got Salt Statham Napoleon, had his cutie mark from single-handily takin' on a group of bullies, made him realize that he was a brawler." "Um, Mr. Napoleon... is the rest of the brothers' stories going to have something to do with hurting somepony?" Miracle asked nervously. "Yeah, we aren't the violent type..." Pureblood agreed. "You want the stories?" Grimoire deadpanned. The four sighed. "Continue." Miracle said flatly. "Gladly." Grimoire smirked. "Lars Atticus Napoleon, got his mark for ripping off a trader, didn't leave a trace, realized he was a pro in stealing and pulling off heists. Works well with that brain of his. Vinny Cartman Napoleon got Cutie Marked for trashing this one street single-hoofedly..." "Um, what does that have to do with that shot-glass cutie mark?" Hurricane asked. "Simple. He got into Pops' cellar and downed a bottle of mead. Was drunker than a sailor. That when he realized... he liked booze and everything about it, and he had a knack for smashing stuff." Grimoire declared. "As for Slot Lucky Napoleon..." "Lucky?" Vito snorted. "Uncle Slot's middle name is Lucky?" "Well, his name was Slot, Vito." Grimoire pointed out. "Oh, boy, what did he do to get his cutie mark?" Miracle asked. "Simple." Grimoire smiled. "He cornered poor Ms. Crane while she was in the showers and stabbed her to death while screeching violins played in the background." "Really?!" Hurricane gasped. "Naw, Slot got into a knife-throwing competition with this Hoofistan pony, and got his mark for expert use of knives... I don't know how the music loving part fits in, but it's there." Grimoire chuckled. "What about you, grandpa?" Pureblood asked. "What's your talent?" "Well..." Grimoire showed off his grim-book cutie mark. "It was a dark stormy night, about forty to fifty years ago. I always had a thing for books, and quoted them often... it wasn't before long that I made up a quote of my own, on that night..." "Which is?" Miracle inquired. Grimoire smiled, and cleared his throat. "The path of the righteous stallion is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil ponies." He recited. "Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee..." "Wow... what does that even mean?" Vito gaped. "Who cares... that's... that's beautiful." Pureblood declared. "Yeah... Mr. Bombay thought the same thing too... right before I shot him." Grimoire remarked, causing the kids to look on in shock. "That was when I realized... I had a thing for words and stories... and it goes pretty dang well with my line of work." "Um, thanks..." Miracle gaped. "I hope that 'inspired' you." Grimoire smiled. "It did something, alright." Vito cringed. "We're gonna go... ask somepony else now." Pureblood declared. "Bye!" Hurricane waved, as the Crusader beat a hasty retreat. As they went into the castle, they saw Blueblood and Dusty in the study. "Hi, mom!" Pureblood smiled. "Hi, dad." Vito smiled. "Hi, kids." Blueblood grinned. "Can you tell us how you got your Cutie Marks?" Miracle asked. "We're stuck for ideas." Hurricane declared. "Maybe hearing how you found your special talents will inspire us." "Very well." Blueblood nodded. "Back when I was around your age, auntie Celestia made me on a hike with local pony scouts troop. Somewhere along the way, I took a wrong turn, and found myself separated from the troop. After... ahem, calmly and coolly assessing the situation, I picked a direction at random, and starting walking. Before I knew it, I had found the starting point. It was then that I realized my special talent was a remarkable sense of direction, and this little fella appeared." He pointed at his compass Cutie Mark. "Wow." Hurricane smiled. "My mom got her Cutie Mark in a similar way. And when I say 'similar', I mean 'making her way out of a nasty jungle'." "How'd you get your Mark, mom?" Vito asked. "Well, it happened back when I was a little filly." Dusty recalled. "I was alone at the mansion, while my dad and uncles were out, when I noticed that the dining room was a complete and utter mess… so I decided to clean it all up. By the time I'd finished, dad came back, and he was really impressed by how clean it was. That was when I realized my special talent was cleaning, and my Cutie Mark appeared." "Okay, we've got some good ones so far." Miracle smiled. "Let's keep going!" The Crusaders left the room. "Complete and utter mess, hmm?" Blueblood asked Dusty. "Okay, fine." Dusty sighed. "My father and uncles had just finished killing off another criminal family that was doing slave trading in that room, and I inadvertently cleaned up their messes. Ever since then, other mafia families wanted me to be their 'cleaner'." "I'm starting to understand why you left Bitaly." Blueblood nodded sagely. The Crusaders soon ran into Constell and Luxury, lounging in the gardens, posing them the same question. "Well, I got my Cutie Mark when I found out I could control the placement of the stars in the sky." Constell smiled. "One night, I was just looking up, and I thought how much better one star would look over to the side. Then it happened. I shifted more stars, and my Cutie Mark came." "Whoa." Pureblood gasped. "I didn't get my Cutie Mark in such amazing circumstances." Luxury added. "I got it for a near-instinctive ability to determine the worth and purity of gems, jewels, pearls, what have you... It cropped up when mother took me on a shopping spree, and a salespony was trying to rip her off." "I'd love a talent like that." Vito declared. "Why am I not surprised?" Miracle rolled her eyes. "Well, it kinda got old fast." Luxury shrugged. "That's why I decided to become a lawyer instead, so I could help ponies." "So, a ponies' special talent isn't always their dream job?" Pureblood asked. "Never thought of it that way..." Their next stop was Blue Blazes and Mist, as the two were in the parlour, the three-months-pregnant Mist was reading a book on ancient Equestrian history, and Blue was merely cuddling with her. The four asked them the same question. "How did I get my Cutie Mark?" Blue chuckled. "Well, I was flying with other Wonderbolts trainees, trying to make my mark. I'd been practicing this new move for days. As I dived downwards, I decided to give it another try. I started spinning as I dove, faster and faster, until FWOOM! I turned into a flying blue fireball! I sped down, hugged the ground then shut back up. To finish, I opened my wings, and the flames spread out like a firework." "Wow..." The Crusaders gasped. "Yeah, it was pretty cool." Blue chuckled. "However, it is important to remember that even though you may have the natural-born talents for one thing, it doesn't mean you can't find another calling… like I did with bartending." "What a waste..." Vito frowned. "Bartending isn't exactly the most exciting or profitable job around." "Maybe, but it makes me happy." Blue shrugged. "How about you, Mist?" Miracle asked. "I got my Cutie Mark during a really dry season." Mist recalled. "So dry, the cherries were in danger of shrivelling. I wanted to help so badly, I focused with all my might on the clouds, trying to make it rain. But something else happened; The clouds came down, becoming a mist that kept the cherries hydrated. That's when my Cutie Mark appeared." "Amazing." Miracle smiled. "It just goes to show, you don't know what you can do, until you do it." Mist smiled. Soon after, the Crusaders crossed paths with Gothic. "My special talent is a simple one." He declared. "When I was a kid, I was scared of bats. Terrified. One night, a bat flew into my room. I was so scared, I knocked over my lamp, and it clipped the bat's wing. I saw how hurt he was, and, in spite of my fear, I picked him up, and bandaged his wing with some old fabric. He looked at me, with gratitude in hiss eyes, and my fear just vanished. I kept him safe and fed until it's wing healed. I tried to let him go, but it wouldn't leave. It wanted to stay with me. So I kept him. It was then that I realised I had a way with nocturnal animals. My Cutie Mark appeared, and I was never afraid of bats again." "Thanks for the story, Gothic." Miracle nodded. As they kept moving, the Crusaders bumped into Caboose. "Hey, kids." He smiled. "What's up?" "We're asking everypony about how they got their Cutie Marks, dad." Hurricane declared. "How'd you get yours?" "Ooh, that's a good one." Caboose declared. "Back when I was younger, I always knew I was different from my brothers. I started to question my identity as a member of the Napoleon family, and actually tried to run away when I was fourteen. However, my brothers all came to find me and bring me home... but then, we were ambushed by the Clopranos, a rival family. I wasn't much of a fighter back then, but I didn't need to be. My brothers made a circle around, and protected me while they killed those jerks!" The Crusaders gasped with horror. "It was then that I realized my talent was bringing ponies together in the worst of times." Caboose recalled. "My Cutie Mark appeared right then and there. I even joined them in finishing the Clopranos off. Ah, memories..." He started to sing. "Just a perfect day, drink sangria in the park. And then later, when it gets dark, we go home..." The Crusaders backed away slowly "Who do you think was worst, uncle Caboose or grandpa?" Vito joked. "Slot." Hurricane declared. The Crusaders' last stop was Celestia and Luna. "Ah, what a tale it was." Celestia remembered fondly. "Centuries ago, the sun and moon were moved by the collective magic of Unicorns. Unfortunately, an ancient and terrible sickness began to claim many of them. Knowing that the sun had to move, I attempted what I thought was impossible; I moved the sun. So amazed were the Unicorns that they asked that I take over moving the sun, believing that my powers were far more reliable. It was then that my Cutie Mark appeared." "That was a great story." Hurricane smiled. "What about you, aunt Luna?" Miracle asked. "Well, it wasn't long after that I grew a little jealous over my sister's new-found ability and Cutie Mark." Luna recalled. "One night, as I sulked, I realized that, through some oversight, the moon was still where it was. With a supreme effort, I unlocked my own ability, and the moon moved. It was a glorious day for me, made all the better by my brand new Cutie Mark." "So many stories about getting Cutie Marks." Pureblood smiled. "I do believe I'm inspired." Vito grinned. "Well, what are we waiting for?" Miracle chuckled. "Let's get crusading!" "And once again, Status Quo Is good!" Hurricane cheered. "Good luck, Crusaders." Celestia beamed. "May your Cutie Marks come soon." Luna added. Meanwhile, Caboose was still singing his song, oblivious to the fact the Crusaders were long gone. "Oh, it's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you." He crooned. "Oh, such a perfect day, you just keep me hanging on, you just keep me hanging on..." That night, Miracle was being tucked in by Shine. "Hey, dad?" Miracle asked. "Yes, sunbeam?" Shine smiled. "How did you get your Cutie Mark?" Miracle inquired. "Well, it all began years ago." Shine declared. "I was on my way to Canterlot, flying through a terrible storm, seeking the help of the princesses..." Miracle listened raptly, and considered her father's story the best of all those she had heard that day.